16th September 2018

Something to read

Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks.

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Proverbs 1:20-21 from full reading Proverbs 1:20-33

Something to think about

In this stirring passage from Proverbs, Wisdom is personified and she speaks with a female voice. She calls out her prophetic message; will people listen, or will they turn away?

Today, powerful male voices still get more attention than female voices. The wisdom of women, particularly women in the global South, is often ignored. How much wisdom do we miss when we fail to listen?

This Harvest, we stand together with women in Ethiopia, Malawi, Burkina Faso and Honduras. These women are being empowered to grow businesses through solar energy.

Women like Aster who lives in Ethiopia. Previously, Aster’s chances of earning enough to give her children a decent future were limited. Climate change has threatened traditional farming life, and women in Aster’s community have not had the same opportunities as men to adapt.

But Aster and her sisters are wise, and together they are powerful. They are a shining example to us of a community working together in harmony with the environment.

Something to do

Something to pray

Gracious God,
give us ears to listen
to the wisdom of those ignored by the world.
We thank you for the women we know
who have been a shining light in our lives.
We ask your blessing on Aster and her family,
and pray for the success of this year’s Harvest Appeal.In Jesus’ name we pray,Amen.

Today’s contributor is Tim Burdon, Christian Aid’s Regional Coordinator for County Durham and Redcar and Cleveland. Tim joined Christian Aid this year having previously been an RE teacher.